# Things in movies for which you just can't suspend disbelief (poss unboxed spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 5, 2007, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576 "2007-07-05T09:39:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576/141 "2007-07-07T16:27:55Z")
[QUOTE=Rhythmdvl] Riding a motorcycle in the rain/dust/at speed without a face shield, goggles of any sort, or squinting into the wind (all while holding a conversation with a fellow biker/badguy/stranger in a convertible next to you). [/QUOTE] Well, in the real world I see guys wearing those short Harley-style black helmets, with only sunglasses to protect their vision. I’ve never understood that either, because in my motorcycling days I was never comfortable with less than a full-face shield and chin guard. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576/142 "2007-07-07T17:02:40Z")
[QUOTE=Malthus] A variant on this - the seemingly automatic assumption, in many a historical movie, that cannons always fire shells that explode with massive fireballs when they hit anything. [/QUOTE] Explosions are a fairly easy effect to rig. Showing a solid ball plowing through a column of unlucky infantrymen is a little harder. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576/143 "2007-07-07T17:08:38Z")
[QUOTE=Sitnam] _Gattica_, a society that advanced and that concerned about genetic makeup gets fooled that easily. [/QUOTE] “Easy?! You call that easy?!” Seriously, the whole point was that he had the help of a hyper-genius to figure out how to make it work, no one had ever looked for such a determined subterfuge, and in fact he eventually did get caught. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576/144 "2007-07-07T17:11:35Z")
[QUOTE=Fiver] Well, in the real world I see guys wearing those short Harley-style black helmets, with only sunglasses to protect their vision. [/QUOTE] Exactly… even the biggest, burliest biker is going to have _something_ to deflect the wind–or end up squinting. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576/145 "2007-07-07T17:16:50Z")
[QUOTE=cactus waltz] A very cold, manly and refreshing Budweiser please! [/QUOTE] _hands **cactus waltz** a [Czechvar](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budweiser_Budvar_Czech_Premium_Lager)_ 😉 ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576/146 "2007-07-07T19:31:29Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] Indy isn’t supposed to be helped by magic [/QUOTE] Unless, of course, it’s preceded by “Industrial Light and…” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576/147 "2007-07-07T22:25:06Z")
[QUOTE=Sitnam] _Gattica_, a society that advanced and that concerned about genetic makeup gets fooled that easily. [/QUOTE] That at any rate is more plausible than a future where astronauts fly in **business suits.** ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576/148 "2007-07-07T22:33:56Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] That at any rate is more plausible than a future where astronauts fly in **business suits.** [/QUOTE] “TWA in 2001!?” Took me _right_ out of that movie. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576/149 "2007-07-07T22:38:13Z")
[QUOTE=BraheSilver] “TWA in 2001!?” Took me _right_ out of that movie. [/QUOTE] I thought it was Pan Am. ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2007, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576/150 "2007-07-07T22:57:37Z")
Bah. I knew I’d mess that one up. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576/151 "2007-07-08T01:09:55Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] There was a STTNG episode where they tried to explain the ubiquity of the humanoid form as being the end result of a deliberate act of panspermia, instigated by a dying race of (humanoid) aliens. [/QUOTE] In Star Trek fanon it’s speculated that that race later evolved into the Founders. Of course the only evidence to support this is that the same actress played both roles and wore similiar makeup. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576/152 "2007-07-08T11:18:28Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow] Actually, it’s “Prepared be.” One guess as to which Jedi wrote it. [/QUOTE] [Man-Bat?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man-Bat) ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576/153 "2007-07-08T17:34:01Z")
[QUOTE=alphaboi867] In Star Trek fanon it’s speculated that that race later evolved into the Founders. Of course the only evidence to support this is that the same actress played both roles and wore similiar makeup. [/QUOTE] An episode of ST:TOS had the Enterprise crew meeting up with a trio of energy beings, the last survivors of a dying race that were humanoids once who travelled the galaxy, as the Federation now does. One of the energy being speculated that the human race might be their descendants. A crewmember responded that Earth’s fossil record showed that humans had evolved independently, but Spock said that the legends might account for some of his race’s genesis myths. So, it’s like canon. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576/154 "2007-07-08T18:10:11Z")
Every disaster movie, eartquake, meteor,comet is reduced to the scientist running off to save his family. The world is blowing apart but he can make it ok. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576/155 "2007-07-08T18:14:09Z")
[QUOTE=alphaboi867] In Star Trek fanon it’s speculated that that race later evolved into the Founders. [/QUOTE] I hate that idea, and it makes little sense biologically. Although it would make the Founders’ disdain for “Solids” a little more interesting. Like how the Japanese are horrified by any suggestion they may once have been Korean, even though it’s almost certain that’s where Japan was settled from. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2007, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576/156 "2007-07-08T21:36:05Z")
[QUOTE=Evil Captor] …So, it’s like canon. [/QUOTE] Um, we seem to be talking about different aliens, in different episodes, of different TV series. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576/157 "2007-07-09T03:07:41Z")
[QUOTE=Der Trihs] And as I understand it, he doesn’t wake up; he gets lobotomized; that’s why the screen fades to white at the end. [/QUOTE] I’ve heard this theory before, and it doesn’t make a bit of sense. Why would a lobotomy be necessary? If Arnie’s adventure is a dream, then it all went exactly as it was supposed to. Arnie knows that he might be waking up any moment now. There isn’t any big problem that would require brain surgery, and besides, lobotomy is an antiquated procedure _now_. Do you really think they’d still be using it in the far future? ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576/158 "2007-07-09T04:47:19Z")
[QUOTE=alphaboi867] Um, we seem to be talking about different aliens, in different episodes, of different TV series. :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] Short answer: I don’t care what you say, Koreans and Japanese are the product of alien seeding mission. Don’t know about the rest of us, but them, DEFINITELY! Long answer: All the Trek series are supposed to be set in the same universe. It’s not inconceivable that several races of energy beings are running around ignoring the fossil record here on Earth, or more likely, thinking we haven’t studied it. If you’re an energy being, you’re probably prone to think meatbags are chumps. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2007, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576/159 "2007-07-09T15:45:46Z")
The young Hannibal Lecter turning down sex in a Japanese-style tub with Gong Li. I don’t care how much of a psychopath you are, that wouldn’t happen! Especially since the movie also asks you to suspend disbelief in that he loves her and cares that she might be harmed. How does that fit into the psychopath deal? **Hannibal Rising** , in case anyone saw it but me. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2007, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576/160 "2007-07-10T02:37:56Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] The young Hannibal Lecter turning down sex in a Japanese-style tub with Gong Li. [/QUOTE] Sounds like _Hannibal Limping_ to me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-in-movies-for-which-you-just-cant-suspend-disbelief-poss-unboxed-spoilers/410576.md?page=9)